HEEL-TOE DOWNSHIFT!

[doross]

My friend is doing Formula Women this year and the first thing they learnt is to heel-toe down shift. Ive heard about this before and was intrigued now so gave it a go. Once you get the hang of it it works really well and you can instantly feel the difference. You end up with a much smoother and faster drive.

The sequence for a proper heel-toe downshift is as follows:

1.Apply the brake with the ball of your right foot.
2.Depress the clutch pedal with your left foot.
3.Place your hand on the gear lever.
4.Rotate your right foot counter-clockwise by pushing your heel away from you, then "blip" the throttle with the right edge of your right foot by rolling your foot down and to the right, while still applying even pressure to the brake pedal.
5.At the same as the throttle blip, move the gear selector into the lower gear.
6.Release the clutch pedal quickly.

Give it a go and tell me how you have got on. Its a very good skill to master and it will improve your driving too. Very useful for Track days!
 

[kniterider]

hmm sounds ok if your in a reason to be down shifting so fast!!, i think in day to day driving though its more about 'floor it' than down changes and stuff, like you said though may be good for trackdays and stuff.......

 

[doross]

Its not to do with downshifting fast , smoothly is the name of the game. Its better for the car, tyres and even your passengers. It will come in handy when you come up behind the Saxo Brigade ready for an overtaking manouver.

[kingsmk2]

i heel and toe when on track days or b roads thrashes! in a hurry it just means you dont have to clutch it so much as when the revs drop from the blip itl go in gear anyway as with clutchless changes there is a rev point where u dont need the clutch.

[kniterider]

hmmm, yeah i spsoe if your into trashing it with the saxo boys!! lol, (sorry showing me age!!), on all me bikes have always not used the clutch on the upshift for a quicker smoother change but down shift you always needed a bit.... never really bothered with cars........ but i spose having size 12 feet kinda dosnt wanna make you go twisting ya heels and stuff... since theres not alot of room down there for me anyways!!

 

[doross]

Size 12'S. Ur can press all 3 pedals at the same time with them!
Any good bike riders out there know how important it is too blip the throttle on a down shift to stop the back wheel from  locking up, works the same for cars but not so noticable.

[kniterider]

hmmm good bike riders.....

well done a bit on bikes and i always use me clutch on changing down......

changin up is different its easy, but on the down shift it you get it wrong you get a fook off clonk that WILL lock your back wheel, using the clutch you minimize this...

just my bit but what do i know.....

drag raced bikes, done track days on em... i know nothing........

 

[doross]

So you know a bit about bikes then too!
Looking at getting another bike myself. Had a CBR600 untill I highsided it on a bend a couple of years ago. Just been offered another CBR in the same colours and the same year as my one which I killed, (or was it trying to kill me?!), not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing but very tempted to go for it.

[rossco p]

feather the clutch on your bike for a nice gliding downshift, with the back wheel bouncing gracefully behind you. or go into a familiar corner and put it into a gear lower than normal, well in advance and sort yourself out from there. looks good for your mates, costs an arm an a leg for new corsa's

[rossco p]

have been trying the heel toe for a while, especially when she isn't with me. find my size 12 arn't all that happy about sharing the space though. feels good when you get it right though. can see advantages on the track. not done one in the golf yet